Obituaries

Rachel A. Shulman

Rachel A. Shulman, 89, of Hartford, widow of Albert H. Shulman, died on Sunday, May 4 at her home, surrounded by her family. Born in Hartford, she was the daughter of the late Anna Fleischman and Nathan Adelman. After graduating from Weaver High School (voted cutest in her class), she worked at the Hartford Courant as an executive secretary. She met Albert shortly thereafter, and they were married on Groundhog Day, 1941. While raising her four children, she was very active in politics and volunteered her time for many of the ongoing campaigns for mayor, governor and president. She also served as a member of the Ann Randall Arts Committee, which was instrumental in bringing music, theater, and dance to the Hartford area. Ever aware of the horrors of war, she marched repeatedly in support of banning nuclear weapons and of ending the Vietnam War. As an active member of the China Friendship Force, Rachel was among the first to go to mainland China, first as a member of the group and for the following year, she was the group's leader. She was ahead of her time in many other ways as well, concerned about trans fats (before anyone even knew what they were), the effects of second hand cigarette smoke, the importance of exercise, organic gardening, and recycling. In addition to their home in Hartford, Rachel and Albert had other favorite places. They maintained a second home in Bennington, Vermont, and until Alberts death in 2003, they spent nearly every February in Tortola, BVI. After her children left home, Rachel became an accomplished artist, showing her collages in many Hartford area art shows. Rachel is survived by her son Marc and his wife, Peggy, and three daughters, Justine Robertson and her husband Lewis, Amy Shulman Weinberg and her husband Robert, and Sally Rosengren and her husband David; 9 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 9, 2008 at 1:30 pm in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford with interment following in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Visiting hours at her home at Fernwood Estates, 237 Fern St, Unit 403W will follow at 4 pm. Donations in Rachels name can be made to A Fresh Canvas, an arts and music program for people with Alzheimers, at Hebrew Health Care, One Abrahms Blvd., West Hartford 06117 or to the Friends of Elizabeth Park, PO Box 370361 West Hartford 06137 (www.elizabethpark.org). For further information, directions, or to share memories of Rachel with her family, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.